BALTIMORE (Map, News) - County Executive John R. Leopold is pushing bills in the General Assembly that could bring more money back into a county under financial strain.

“It’s only fair that under these state mandates, we should be able to recoup the cost of doing business,” Leopold told the Anne Arundel delegation at its weekly meeting recently.

One bill would allow counties to negotiate with developers of federal property the terms of payment-in-lieu-of-taxes to help pay for road, water system and public safety improvements.

Developers like Trammel Crow, which is developing land near Fort Meade for the Base Realignment and Closure influx, are exempt from taxes.

Having the developer pay would mean less taxpayer money funding the upgrades.

Another bill would allow Anne Arundel to increase its food licensing fees from the $300 state-mandated cap to $500, resulting in an additional $233,000 in revenue from the more than 1,100 establishments, health officials said.

The bills would grant Leopold and the County Council the authority to determine the new fees and their enforcement.

Del. Mary Ann Love, D-District 32, and delegation chairwoman, said the county should increase licensing fees incrementally so as not to burden business owners.

Del. Theodore Sophocleus, D-District 32, asked Leopold if it was the right time to raise fees, given the recent state tax increase. Leopold also is proposing a steep increase in development fees in the county.

“Now is the right time,” Leopold said. “The needs are numerous, and the resources are finite.”

jflanagan@baltimoreexaminer.com